Southeastern Turkey Holds Major Share in Dried Fruit Exports

Güneydoğu Anadolu Kuru Meyve ve Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği Chairman Mehmet Çıkmaz evaluated the first six months of 2022, noting that Turkey achieved total exports of USD 755 million 880 thousand during this period, with USD 165 million 97 thousand coming from the Southeastern Anatolia Region. The dried fruit and processed products sector generated USD 755 million 880 thousand in revenue by shipping products to 149 countries and free zones during the first half of the year, increasing foreign sales by 10.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. Chairman Çıkmaz stated that the Southeastern Anatolia Region achieved a 22.3 percent increase during this period.

Demand for dried fruit growing

Pointing out that the most exported product from Turkey's dried fruit sector was seedless raisins at USD 208 million 297 thousand, Chairman Çıkmaz added that the most exported product from the Southeastern Anatolia Region was Antep pistachios at USD 72 million 549 thousand, followed by dried apricots at USD 61 million 226 thousand. During the first six months of the year, exports from the Southeast included Antep pistachios and dried apricots as well as dried fruit varieties, dried figs, apricot and plum kernels, various roasted products, chickpeas, walnuts, seedless raisins, almonds, prunes and other dried fruits. Chairman Çıkmaz continued as follows: "In the first half of 2022, Aegean Exporters Associations ranked first in dried fruit product exports. USD 393 million 657 thousand in exports was achieved from this association, while we achieved USD 165 million 97 thousand in exports from Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Associations, which ranked second."

Highest exports of USD 27 million 586 thousand to Germany

Chairman Çıkmaz also disclosed that USD 71 million 359 thousand in dried fruit exports went to European Union countries during January-June 2022, and that the highest exports to any single country were USD 27 million 586 thousand to Germany. This was followed by Italy at USD 23 million 211 thousand and the United States at USD 15 million 593 thousand.

We will exceed our 2022 targets by year-end

GAİB Dried Fruit and Processed Products Exporters Association Chairman Mehmet Çıkmaz noted that dried fruit sector exports are increasing every day and that this sector makes an important contribution to the Turkish economy, continuing as follows: "We process dried fruit and processed products grown in Anatolia and send them around the world. Turkish products are preferred and consumed. Among these fruits, grapes, apricots and Antep pistachios are our most demanded products. By preparing and selling these fruits, we contributed USD 755 million 880 thousand to the Turkish economy in the first half of the year, and this makes us happy. Despite problems in the global economy, our sector exports are running healthily and successfully. I believe that by year-end we will achieve results exceeding our 2022 targets."